The NORKA should be restructured and revamped, says Loka Kerala Sabha member Thomas Mathew Kadavil

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

“The Loka Kerala Sabha should act as a legislative body, Norka as its executive arm and Pravasi Commissions with quasi judicial powers. This should be the holistic approach towards the management of migration from Kerala”, said Thomas Mathew Kadavil, member of the newly formed Loka Kerala Sabha by the Gvernment of Kerala. “The goals and the vision towards migration had drastically changed and to cope with the present scenario of migration a basic restructuring of the present Non Resident Keralites’ Affairs Department (NORKA) Noraka is imperative and its is need of the hour and future of Migration Management from Kerala” he opined. Thomas Mathew Kadavil is one of the member from Kuwait appointed by the Government of Kerala to the newly formed LKS.

The State Government of Kerala had decided to constitute LKS and is envisaged as a platform for the cultural, socio-political and economic integration of myriad Keralites with the home state.

The Loka Kerala Sabha consists of total 351 members of which 178 members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and the rest 173 consist of 100 members from nonresident Keralite from abroad, 40 from Non Resident Keralites residing in India outside Kerala and 30 eminent Keralites from different walks of life.

The first LKS will be convened in Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram on 12th and 13th of January 2018 in the Kerala Legislative Assembly building which itself shows the importance the State of Kerala attaches to this august body.

“Safe orderly and regular migration “is the theme and slogan adopted by UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 agenda. To achieve these goals a Global Compact on Migration is envisaged and slated for adoption in September 2018 in the UN General Assembly. India being the largest migrant exporting country, it is the primary responsibility of the government of India to chip in all different stake holders globally to ensure the welfare of its migrant population. The present day engagement of India with the Global Compact is dismal” Kadavil said. “Government of India should correct its perspectives and should a take proactive position in this regard.”

“The present day thought process of migrant’s welfare must change.” Thomas Mathew Kadavil said. There should be a holistic approach. Presently in every point of Migration the Migrant is exploited rather robbed by different stake holders.

“First of all the world must understand that migrants are not commodities for export and import , they are humans. So the policies, rules and regulations on migration should have a human touch. The exploitative nature of the present day narratives should change both in India and the Countries of Destination”
Thomas Mathew Kadavil rebuked the recent hike of the recruitment fees from 20,000 rupees to 30,000 rupees.

Recruitment fees collection from the migrant recruits should be stopped. Urge upon the government of India to abolish the collection of recruitment fees from all types of migrant workers. Free Recruitment and Free Travel should be the norm. The government of India decision of increasing the recruitment fees is against the spirit of all agreements and dialogues happened in the Colombo Process and Abu Dhabi dialogue which the government of India is a member state.

“Recruitment fees and travel should be employer paying model. Any fees collected from the migrant worker towards recruitment is bonded labour and amounts to human trafficking which is not acceptable” Kadavil added.

“Migrant means development. Many developed Countries heavily depended on Migration for their development. When the migrants rights are safeguarded and an inclusive approach will yield synergies in the development process. The best example is Kerala itself where the internal migrants are not discriminated on the lines of caste, language etc. Their labor contribution is highly respected in the state. The government had taken all possible measure to ensure their safety, security and welfare”

Nominating him as the Member Loka kerala Sabha is a recognition by the government of Kerala for his exemplarily social work especially in helping the poor and needy migrants from India. His grass root level social work had benefitted umpteen numbers of fellow expats from India. He helped many from SAARC countries at the time of General Amnesties declared to get repatriated their homes safely.

He is always busy with calls for help and active through the days in coordinating their help with all concerned in Kuwait as well as back in India.

The Keralites in Kuwait are happy to receive his nomination and him to be their “MLKS” (Member Loka Kerala Sabha)

The LKS will be yet another 'Kerala Model' for India and other states of India to emulate, and such forums should gain significance as cultures and communities grow beyond geographical boundaries.

Kerala’s people and its culture have travelled beyond borders and to every corner of the world, fostering their assimilation and integration with the rest of the world “This farsighted vision of the Kerala Government should be well appreciated” he said.

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